The Meaning of Numbers 11:23 Explained

Numbers 11:23

KJV: And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

YLT: And Jehovah saith unto Moses, 'Is the hand of Jehovah become short? now thou dost see whether My word meeteth thee or not.'

Darby: And Jehovah said to Moses, Hath Jehovah's hand become short? Now shalt thou see whether my word will come to pass unto thee or not.

ASV: And Jehovah said unto Moses, Is Jehovah's hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  said  unto Moses,  Is the LORD'S  hand  waxed short?  thou shalt see  now whether my word  shall come to pass  unto thee or not. 

What does Numbers 11:23 Mean?

Context Summary

Numbers 11:16-25 - God's Spirit Upon The Seventy
God's considerateness for His overwrought servant was very tender. He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. He does not chide, nor keep His anger forever. The remedy for the situation was provided in the appointment and enduement of the seventy elders, who became the germ of the Sanhedrin.
Moses' depression led to unbelief. It seemed impossible to suppose that God could provide a table in the wilderness of such magnitude that in it the whole host could participate. Unbelief says, Can God? Faith answers, God can! See Psalms 78:19. Child of God! God's hand is not waxed short, that it cannot reach to you. Even if we believe not, He remains faithful, 2 Timothy 2:13. This equipment of the elders, Numbers 11:25, reminds us that we, too, need to receive the Holy Spirit, first for our sanctification in character, and then for our service and office. This is the special characteristic of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4. [source]

Chapter Summary: Numbers 11

1  The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer
4  The people crave meat, and loathe manna
10  Moses complains of his charge
16  God promises to divide his burden unto seventy elders,
18  and to give the people meat for a month
21  Moses' faith is staggered
31  Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth Hattaavah

What do the individual words in Numbers 11:23 mean?

and said Yahweh to Moses arm of Yahweh Has been shortened now you shall see whether will happen to you what I say or not
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־ מֹשֶׁ֔ה הֲיַ֥ד יְהוָ֖ה ؟ תִּקְצָ֑ר עַתָּ֥ה תִרְאֶ֛ה הֲיִקְרְךָ֥ דְבָרִ֖י אִם־ לֹֽא

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֹשֶׁ֔ה  Moses 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֹשֶׁה  
Sense: the prophet and lawgiver, leader of the exodus.
הֲיַ֥ד  arm 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
יְהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
؟ תִּקְצָ֑ר  Has  been  shortened 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קָצוּר 
Sense: to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved.
עַתָּ֥ה  now 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
תִרְאֶ֛ה  you  shall  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
הֲיִקְרְךָ֥  whether  will  happen  to  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: קָרָה 
Sense: to encounter, meet, befall, happen, come to meet.
דְבָרִ֖י  what  I  say 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.